Copper-silicon alloy



Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED srA'rss PATENT OFFICE- EUGEN' VADERS, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN,

oorrnn-s'rmcon ALLOY No Drawing. Application filed larch 2, 1928, Serial No. 258,688, and in Germany larch 5, 1827.

This invention relates to improver'nents in copper-silicon alloys.

The known copper-silicon alloys have a small tenacity but are very ductile. These alloys could therefore be stretched or rolled to wires or bars, but were not adapted for casting purposes.

According to the, invention copper-silicon alloys are 'made suitable for casting purposes by especially proportioning their silicon content and by further addition of iron and nickel. The proportions are preferably within the following limits: 1 to 4% silicon,

4 to 6% iron, 1 to 5% nickel. The alloys obtained by making these additions within the above limits have a tenacity up to 45 Kg/mm and above. By keeping theadditions of silicon, iron and nickel-at or near the above given minimum limits the alloys may still be rolled, pressed, stretched or worked upon in a similar manner.

The new alloys are further improved by addition of othermetals such as tin, manga-.

Example The following raw materials may be used for making the new alloys:

Nickel-iron alloy containing 50% nickel, silicon-iron alloy containing 50% silicon, silicon-copper alloy containing 10% silicon,

aluminum-iron alloycontaining, alumis.-.

- num, manganese-copper alloy, containing about 25% manganese. For making 100' kg. of one of the new alloys 70.7 kg. of chemically pure or electrolytic copper or the like are char ed'with 20 k of silicon-cop or into a 5 cruci 1e furnace. en the melt has taken up the suitable temperature 6 kg. of nickeliron and 2 kg. of silicon iron are added. When the whole charge hasbecome liquid small amounts for example 300 g. of alu-- minum-iron and 500 g. of manganese-.copp

or are added. The melting process is prefera ly carried out under charcoal protection. When the crucible has been removed from'the fire finally 500 g. of tin areadded and. the whole melt is once thoroughly stirred. The content of the crucible is then allowed to cool a little and cast at not too high a'temperature of about 1100 to 1200 C.

I have further found that the same tenacity or a still greater tenacity of the new alloys is obtained, whenthe new alloys contain an addition of not more than 20% of zinc. In this case it is also possible to increase thev amount of iron and nickel in the alloys.

An alloy containing 5% of nickel, 5,% of

iron, 10% of zinc, 2 or 3% of silicon and'.

less than 1% of tin is made in the following manner: A part of the necessary copper consistingfor example of waste copper with tin or zinc as impurity, is first charged with a part of the necessary iron, containing as little as possible carbon, into the crucible. This mixture is then strongly heated, in order to obtain a uniform mixture, of iron and copper.

.Then the remaining amount of iron is added in the form of a 50% iron-silicon together with silicon-copper and the remaining part of coppen. The Whole mixture is then molten under a cover of charcoal and the corresponding amounts of nickel and zinc are added for example as laminated German silver at the moment of the liquefaction ofzthe mixture. The obtained alloy is easily worked by cut ting tools.

It has further been found, that the tenacity of all the new alloys is improved by a subsequent heat treatment. By heating thenew alloys first to tem eratures between 7 5 0 and 950 C. for examp e for an hour, thenquenching them with water, or another li uid and finally reheating them for examp eup to about 1, 2 or 3 hours or lon er to temperatures between 350 and 600 not only their. tenacity but also their hardness is improved.

I claim:

1. A casting alloy consisting predominantly of copper and containing 14% of silicon, 1-5% of nickel, 4-6% of iron and an addition of 820% of zinc.

2. A casting alloy consisting predominantly of copper and containing 1-4% of silicon, 1-5% of nickel, 445% of iron, 820% of zinc and a small addition of at least one of the metals tin, manganese and aluminum.

3. A casting alloy consisting predominantly of copper and containing l4% of silicon, l5% of nickel, 4.-6% of iron, 820% of zinc and an addition of not more than 1% of tin, not more than 1% of manganese and not more than 1% of aluminum.

4:. A casting alloy consisting predominantly of copper and containing 2.5% of silicon, 5% of iron, 5% of nickel, 10% of zinc and 0.5% of tin.

5. A casting alloy consisting predominantly of copper and containing 2.5% of silicon, 5% of iron, 5% of nickel, 10% of zinc, 0.5% of tin and 0.1% of aluminum.

6. A casting alloy consisting predominantly of copper and containing 2.5% of silicon, 5% of iron, 5% of nickel, 10% of zinc, 0.5% of tin, 0.1% of aluminum and 0.05% of manganese.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DB. EUGEN VADERS. 

